Automatic window washer

ABSTRACT

An automatic window washer has a module riding in tracks on the face of the building and is controlled from a unit mounted on the roof of the building. As the module moves down the face of the building the presence of areas to be washed is automatically sensed and the washing operations then automatically begun and terminated by equipment in the module. The module or modules may be mounted in a span frame for lateral movement therein for washing more than one vertical column of windows when the tracks on the face of the building are spaced apart by a plurality of columns of windows. The washing equipment in the module may take various forms for washing windows of curtain front buildings and for washing recessed windows.

United States Patent [191 Fannon, Jr.

[54] AUTOMATIC WINDOW WASHER Robert D. Fannon, Jr., Columbus, Ohio [73]Assignee: Harsco Corporation, Harsisburg, Pa.

[22] Filed: May 24, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 256,609

Related U.S. Application Data [75] Inventor:

[62] Division of Ser. No, 107,957, Jan. 20, 1971, Pat. No.

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATIONS 1,165,082 9/1969 Great Britain 15/302Primary Examiner-Harvey C. Hornsby Assistant Examiner-C. K. Moore 5 7]ABSTRACT An automatic window washer has a module riding in tracks on theface of the building and is controlled from a unit mounted on the roofof thebuilding. As the module moves down the face of the building thepresence of areas to be washed is automatically sensed and the washingoperations then automatically begun and terminated by equipment in themodule. The module or modules may be mounted in a span frame for lateralmovement therein for washing more than one vertical column of windowswhen the tracks on the face of the building are spaced apart by aplurality of columns of windows. The washing equipment in the module maytake various forms for washing windows of curtain front buildings andfor washing recessed Windows.

2 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEQAPR 16 1914 sum s of 6 FILFII l lAUTOMATIC WINDOW WASHER This is a Division, of U.S. Pat. applicationSer. No. 107,957, filed Jan. 20, 1971 now U.S. Pat. -No. 3,715,774.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Heretofore automatic window washers havebeen proposed for cleaning the exterior of fixed windows of multistorybuildings where the use of window washing personnel on scaffolds wasimpractical for reasons of height, poor weather or economy. Such awasher is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,298,052 granted to M. G. Wolfe onJan. 17, 1967 for Automatic Window Washer and Dryer for ModernSkyscrapers.

In this patent a module suspended from the roof of the building rides intracks on each side of a vertical column of windows and has a washingbrush, a drying roller and a squeegee in washing engagement with acurtain wall and windows. A sensor actuates the squeegee at appropriatetime and the brush and roller may be moved into and out of engagementwith the windows.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,497,902 also relates to this same subject matter.

Various prior art patents such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,691,164; 1,982,345;and 2,293,115 show hand tools for window washing including a squeegeeand vacuum means for removing moisture collected by and on the squeegee.

The present invention may be classified as a machine for brushing,scrubbing and general cleaning with suction and with liquid cleaningmaterial application to work and includes a roof unit running on trackswhich may support a span frame moving in tracks on the face of thebuilding with a cleaning module mounted for lateral movement in the spanframe. The cleaning module contains nozzles for spraying the surfaces tobe cleaned with a cleaning fluid supplied from a reservoir in the moduleor in the span frame; a squeegee moved into and out of engagement withthe surface to be cleaned; a vacuum head adjacent the squeegeeremovingcollected residue to a sump in the module; means in the modulefor pressurizing the cleaning fluid; means in the module for supplyingavacuum to the head; means in the module for moving the squeegee intoand out of operative position; and electric, pnuematic and hydraulicsystems for sensing and for sequential operation of pneumatic cleaningcycle. Motor means are provided for moving the module in the span frameand various electrically actuated safety features are provided in andfrom the roof unit. The roof unit, the span frame and the module are soarranged that they may be stored as a unit in any suitable storage areaon the building roof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore the object of the presentinvention to provide an automatic window washer controlled from amovable roof unit in which the washing cycle for each window in avertical series of windows is automatically started and stopped for eachwindow as a cleaning module descends in tracks disposed at the sides ofthe windows which may include a span frame for the module or modulesengaging the tracks when the tracks are spaced by a plurality of columnsof windows, the washing cycle for each window first spraying the windowwith a cleaning solution which is then removed from the window by asqueegee, residue collected by the squeegee being removed by a vacuum toa sump, it being understood that all surfaces of the building includingwindows may be cleaned by the washer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, which may selectively employ twoconstructions for actuatingthe squeegee, is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which likereference characters indicate like parts, and in which FIG. 1 is a sideelevation of the roof unit, span frame and cleaning module in positionto engage the tracks in the face of the building at the beginning of acleaning run;

FIG. 2 is a view from the building of the span frame and cleaning moduleof FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view from above of the frame and cleaning module of FIG. 1in washing position;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the structure of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view of the cleaning module and span frameshowing certain of the components of the module; I

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a suitable electric central circuit for theembodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a suitable fluidic control system for thecleaning cycle;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a suitable pneumatic control system used inassociation with the control system of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an elevational view with the housing of the module partlyremoved of a double rotatable squeegee suitable for use in the presentinvention for recessed windows; and

FIG I0 is a side view of the modification of FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, abuilding 10 has roof 1 l supporting spaced tracks 12 for a wheel roofunit 13 driven along track 12 by electric motor 14. Roof unit 13 is ofknown type and includes a suitably and electrically driven cable .drum15; a boom arm 16 and a driven screw 17 and nut 18 for raising andlowering the boom through link 19. Boom 16 has end sheeve 20 rotatablymounted thereon over which cable 21 passes to drum 15. A rack 13' may beprovided on unit 13 to receive and support the cleaning module when notin use.

Parallel links 22 and 23 are pivoted at 24 and 25, respectively, toupright 26 of roof unit 13 and at their outer ends are pivoted at 27 and28, respectively to track extensions 29 for span frame 30. Trackextensions 29 have removable stops 31 at the top thereof and cable 21passes through guide 32 on span frame 30 and is secured to span frame 30at compression spring 33.

Span frame 30 carries cleaning module 34. One or more such modules maybe used. When span frame 30 and module 34 are in the raised positionshown in FIG. 1, stops 31 stop further upward movement of the span frameand track extentions 29 then lift on links 22 and 23 and roof unit 13may then be moved to the next column of windows and tracks or the entireunit may be supported on rack 13' and moved to storage as in roof garage35.

'37 spaced horizontally by a plurality of columns of windows andextending vertically up the face of the build ing, shown in thesefigures as a curtain front building.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, span frame 30 hasparallel spaced hollow horizontal members 38 and 3) closed at their'endsand connected by spaced hollow vertical frame members, the hollow spanframe or portion thereof thus formed being ideally suited as a reservoirfor the cleaning fluid supplied to module 34 through hose 34". Tubularextensions 42, 43, 44 and 45 extend inwardly toward the building,respectively, from each corner of the span frame 30 and each ends in aclamp 46. An extension 47 is slidably mounted in each of extensions42-45 and is held in desired position by clamp 46. Each tube 47 ends inhollow T extension slidably receiving support tube 49 which isadjustably mounted therein by through bolts 50. A wheel frame 51 isclamped at 52 to support tube 49. Frame 51 mounts opposed rollers 53 and54 oppositely engaging the adjacent track 36 or 37. Span frame 30 istherefore mounted at each of its corners on rollers engaging the trackson the face'of the building with adjustments provided to compensate forvarious horizontal spacings of the tracks and to provided suitablespacing of the span frame from the face of the building.

A track 55 is secured beneath and extends the length of member 38 andtrack 56 is secured above and extends the length of member 39. Cleaningmodule 34 has oppositely disposed and horizontally spaced pairs ofrollers 57 and 58 engaging track 55 and has horizontally spaced wheels59 and 60 engaging track 56 to support module 34 for horizontal movementin span frame 30. An electric motor 61 drives wheel 59 through belt orchain 62 to provide this movement. Thus, cleaning module 34 may be movedin span frame 30 to clean adjacent vertically disposed columns ofwindows when the span frame spans a plurality of such columns ofwindows, adjacent windows 63 and 64 being seen in FIG. 3. It is to beunderstood that any other building surfaces may be cleaned and referenceto windows herein is to be construed as including such other surfaces.

Cleaning module 34 has, extending therefrom toward the window, a sprayhood 65 and a squeegee assembly 66 including an extensible vacuum duct67 and a squeegee 68. Squeegee assembly 66 and spray hood 65 with itsnozzles may be of desired length to suit the widths of the windows beingcleaned. Cleaning hood 66 is readily removable from the unit at clampnut 66 for replacement with a head of suitable size.

Referring now to FIG. 5, vacuum duct 67 is connected to sump 69 whichreceives the residue from squeegee 68. Sump 69 has a removable cover 70and is drained through valve 71. Vacuum is supplied to duct 67 by blower72 as will be described more fully hereinafter in connection with theseveral control systems.

The horizontal position of squeegee 68 is'adljusted by cylinder 73 andpiston 74 and has emergency return piston 76 and cylinder 77. Theoperation of these cylinders and pistons will be further discussedhereinafter.

A plurality of spaced nozzles 78 are disposed at the bottom of sprayhood and extend across module 34 to cover the width of the window withcleaning fluid when actuated. Cleaning fluid is supplied to nozzles 78under suitable pressure from a reservoir either carried in module 34 orformed by the hollow members of span frame 30 by air pressure suppliedby the high pressure compressor 102 to be describer hereinafter. In thestructure discussed above, squeegee 68 is capableof limited ajustingmovements necessary for the cleaning of windows of a curtain wallbuilding.

When recessed windows are to be cleaned a rotary squeegee has been foundto be more efficient as constructed and as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. Inthese figures module 34 supports bearings and 80 mounting hollow shaft81 for rotation. Two identical parallel support arms 131 and 132 supportsqueegee heads 84 at the outer ends thereof and heads 84 carry squeegee68 as in the first embodiment, squeegees 68 may be removable forinsertion of squeegees of desired length. Vacuum is supplied to heads 84beneath squeegees 68 through extensible ducts 82 and 83 by blower 85driven by motor 86 and connected to sump 87 for the used residue. Sump87 is connected by pipe 88 through rotary joint 79 to hollow shaft 81and thus to heads 84.

Shaft 81 is suitably rotated in counter-clockwise direction as seen inFIG. 10 when the presence of a window is sensed by the control systemand squeegee 68 engages the upper edge 'of the window beneath theoverhang and travels downwardly over the window with the downwardmovement of the module removing the residue from the windows. Cleaningfluid supplied by nozzle 89 is supplied from tank 90 by air pressuresupplied by high pressure compressor 91. When squeegee 68 reaches thelower edge of the window the control system causes rotation of shaft 81through 90 in counterclockwise direction lifting the squeegee off thewindow and bringing the opposed squeegee assembly into position forsubsequent 90 rotation into cleaning position for the next lower window.Module 34 of FIGS. 9 and 10 need not be mounted in a span frame and mayhave suitable means 34' to engage tracks 36 and 37. I 7

As noted above, the automatic operation of the components of module 34for window cleaning is controlled by three systems, electric, fluidicand pneumatic. The control of the electric system is from the roof unit13 through suitable electric cables, which may be incorporated in cable21, to the module to energize the various motors and circuitry there asindicated in FIG. 6. Low pressure air from a compressor in the moduleenergizes the fluidic control system of FIG. 7 for sensing the positionof the module and then sequentially operating valves in the pneumaticcontrol system of FIG. 8 for energizing in proper sequence the cleaningcomponents in the module.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the electfical control system is energizedthrough the roof unit master key switch 92 which provides electriccurrent to automatic or manual switch 93, usually set in position forautomatic operation. The cleaningcycle is then started by moving arotary switch 94 to ready position until the module circuit breaker 95holds. Safety circuit 96 controls the holding of circuit breaker 95.When all conditions imposed by circuit 96 are met such as no overload;proper air pressures; satisfactory vacuum; clean fluid in spray system;

and the remaining conditions 16 identified by the schematic of circuit96, rotary switch 94 is moved to down position and the window cleaningcycle is started. Conventional up and down limit switches 97 and 98associated with cable 21 limit the travel of module 34 in each directionand a control 99 is provided for any portion of the building facade notto be cleaned, here assumed to be the 16th floor where louvres andpanels are present. A safety switch is provided in the roof unitcircuitry to stop operations in the event of slack in cables 21. Anoverload switch may be mounted in conjunction with compression springs33. In the event of overload during upward travel the springs compressabnormally activating the overload switch.

When circuit breaker 95 is energized, current is supplied to motors 101or 86 powering blowers 72 or 85, respectively, to provide vacuum tosqueegee head 66 or 84 through duct 67 or 82, driving a high pressureair compressor 101 or 91 in the module supplying the pneumatic system ofFIG. 8. Electric current is also supplied to transformer 103 and reducedvoltage is then supplied through circuit breaker 104 to compressor andmotor 105 supplying low pressure air to the fluidic control system ofFIG. 7. Current from transformer 103 is also used for driving motor 61for indexing module 34 in span frame 30 and to actuate solenoid valve106 which controls the fluidic signal from the start sensor 107.

There are numerous ways to sense when and/or where cleaning operationsare to be started and stopped. In one system involving the curtain wallmodule and span frame, the start sensor 1070f FIG. 7 is of the opposedjet type and is located on the lower wheel frame 51 and on the same sideas the similar stop sensor 108 is located on the upper wheel frame 51.

The start and stop sensors 107 and 108 of FIG. 2 are of the opposed jettype and are located on the wheel frame of span frame 30. A counting ortravel wheel 109 is driven over the face of the building as the moduledescends and actuates counter 110 to which start and stop sensors 107and 108 are connected. Compressor 105 is connected to and supplies lowpressure air to counter 110 and the other fluidic components. Wheel 109measures movement in one-quarter inch or other desired intervals andfurnishes impulses to counter 110 for start sequence counter, stopsequence counter and emergency reset. As the cleaning mechanism startsits operation, start sensor 107 will determine the beginning of a windowand will indicate when the cleaning operation is to start, as by sensinga mullion slot, by sending an impulse to the start sequence of counter110. Counting wheel 109 is also providing specific counts to sequencecounter 110 but before cleaning can start surface discriminator 111 mustalso provide an impulse through a suitable delay 112 to preventoperation from false indications such as a crack in the building face.Discriminator 111 is an air operated fluidic ear type sensor locatedbeneath the spray nozzles 78 to sense a continuous smooth surface suchas a window. If the sensor indicates no window then counter 110automatically resets or will not start counting.

When a window is present, counter 110 then provides a signal properlysetting the 113/119 flip-flop circuit to furnish low pressure airthrough line A to pressure booster 114 in the pneumatic control systemof FIG. 8 to open valve 115 and to supply cleaning fluid under pressureto nozzle 78. Nozzles 78 then cover the Counter continues to count andat present time supplies a signal to properly set 116/120 flip-flopcircuit to furnish low pressure air through line C and booster 117 (FIG.8) opens cleaning head valve and energizes cylinder 73 to move squeegee68 into window cleaning and engaging position just beneath the upperwindow seal, vacuum in head 67 removing residue collected by thesqueegee.

Counter 110 stops counting'and cleaning continues. When stop sensor 108detects the starting mullion slot counting again begins and at a presenttime provides a signal to reset the 113/119 flip-flop circuit therebywithdrawing the signal to spray booster 114 allowing the spring-loadedvalve to close stopping the spray. Also at a later preset time thecounter provides a signal to reset the 116L120 fligflop CirCllit therebystopping the low pressure air to the cleaning head booster 117 allowingthe spring-loaded valve 118 to return to its off position whichfurnishes high pressure air to the opposite side of piston 74 incylinder 73 which retracts the cleaning head 66. Resetting of the llfijlZQflip-flopgircuit automatically activates the reset circuit 121which resets the counter 110 for cleaning of the next window.

All boosters are provided with high pressure air from compressor 102 asshown at left center of FIG. 8.

If, during a window washing cycle, the low pressure air for the fluidiccontrol system fails, low pressure responsive device of safety circuit96 energizes emergency stop 123 and outward movement of cleaning head 66is stopped. Pneumatic electric switch 124 is also actuated and throughsuitable electric cables either separate or incorporated in cables 21,line 15 opens circuit breaker 95. If the high pressure air for thepneumatic control system fails this failure is determined by pressureresponsive device 125 which acts through emergency stop 123 to preventoutward movement of the cleaning head and through switch 124 to opencircuit breaker 95.

A lever or cam actuated window over travel valve 126 may also beprovided in case cleaning head 66 is not withdrawn at appropriate timefrom the window. Valve 126 then supplies low pressure air to valve 127and through line G and booster 128 (FIG. 8) to emergency retract valve129 which actuates cleaning head emergency retract cylinder 77 toretract cleaning head 66.

' Suitable pressure regulators and air filters may be provided in thesystems of FIGS. 7 and 8 as required.

The components per se of the systems of FIGS. 6-8 are standard itemsknown to the art but the interrelationship of the electric, fluidic andpneumatic control systems for accurate and automatic cleaning ofspraying cleaning fluid on the windows, means in said module forsupplying cleaning fluid under pressure to said nozzles, a squeegee insaid module above said nozzles, means in said module for moving saidsqueegee into and out of engagement with a window being cleaned, vacuummeans in said module cooperating with said squeegee for removing residuetherefrom, means in said module for supplying high and low pressure air,means on said module engaging vertical tracks on the building disposedadjacent the windows to be washed, electric control means energized fromthe roof unit for energizing said means for supplying cleaning fluid,said vacuum means and for energizing said means for supplying high andlow pressure air, fluidic control means mounted in said module energizedby said means for supplying low pressure air, a start fluidic sensor insaid module for said fluidic control means for sensing the top of awindow to be cleaned, a stop fluidic sensor in said module for saidfluidic control means for sensing the bottom of a cleaned window,pneumatic control means energized by said means for supplying highpressure air sequentially actuated by said fluidic control means forfirst connecting said means for supplying cleaning fluid to said nozzlesand then for actuating said means for moving said squeegee, said startsensor starting window cleaning and said stop sensor stopping windowcleaning, said means for moving said squeegee into and out of engagementwith a recessed window rotating said squeegee about an axis in saidmodule parallel to said squeegee in an upward direction with respect tothe window.

2. An automatic window washer for buildings having a mobile supportingunit on the roof of the building, a cleaning module, nozzles in saidmodule for spraying the window.

1. An automatic window washer for buildings having a mobile supportingunit on the roof of the building, at least one cleaning module, nozzlesin said module for spraying cleaning fluid on the windows, means in saidmodule for supplying cleaning fluid under pressure to said nozzles, asqueegee in said module above said nozzles, means in said module formoving said squeegee into and out of engagement with a window beingcleaned, vacuum means in said module cooperating with said squeegee forremoving residue therefrom, means in said module for supplying high andlow pressure air, means on said module engaging vertical tracks on thebuilding disposed adjacent the windows to be washed, electric controlmeans energized from the roof unit for energizing said means forsupplying cleaning fluid, said vacuum means and for energizing saidmeans for supplying high and low pressure air, fluidic control meansmounted in said module energized by said means for supplying lowpressure air, a start fluidic sensor in said module for said fluidiccontrol means for sensing the top of a window to be cleaned, a stopfluidic sensor in said module for said fluidic control means for sensingthe bottom of a cleaned window, pneumatic control means energized bysaid means for supplying high pressure air sequentially actuated by saidfluidic control means for first connecting said means for supplyingcleaning fluid to said nozzles and then for actuating said means formoving said squeegee, said start sensor starting window cleaning andsaid stop sensor stopping window cleaning, said means for moving saidsqueegee into and out of engagement with a recessed window rotating saidsqueegee about an axis in said module parallel to said squeegee in anupward direction with respect to the window.
 2. An automatic windowwasher for buildings having a mobile supporting unit on the roof of thebuilding, a cleaning module, nozzles in said module for sprayingcleaning fluid on the windows, a squeegee in said module above saidnozzles, means in said module for moving said squeegee into and out ofengagement with a window being cleaned, vacuum means in said modulecooperating with said squeegee for removing residue therefrom, means onsaid module engaging vertical tracks on the building disposed adjacentthe windows to be washed, said means for moving said squeegee into andout of engagement with a recessed window rotating said squeegee about anaxis in said module parallel to said squeegee in an upward directionwith respect to the window.